December 2024
Industry slams ‘whitewash’ Victoria government report into CFMEU
Employer groups say Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan’s promise to strengthen whistleblower protections and clean up misbehaviour in the building industry ring hollow.
- Gus McCubbing and David Marin-Guzman
- Exclusive
- CFMEU
Ousted CFMEU officials left in charge of $7m trust
Ex-CFMEU officials, including former NSW leader Darren Greenfield, are on a union-related fund that controls several million dollars, some four months since the union went into administration.
- David Marin-Guzman
Union warns it might back Greens as CFMEU goes to the High Court
Electrical Trades Union national secretary Michael Wright said the Greens had been on “the right side of history” on union issues.
- Updated
- Ronald Mizen
Investigation launched into claims ousted CFMEU boss used CCTV to spy
The Fair Work Commission investigation into former NSW union boss Darren Greenfield is the first under Labor’s laws that prevent former officials obstructing the administration of the CFMEU.
- David Marin-Guzman
Labor created loophole for CFMEU to delay projects: builders
Builders have accused the union of exploiting Labor’s new laws for safety delegates to get around “fit and proper” restrictions on entering building sites, disrupting projects.
- David Marin-Guzman
November 2024
CFMEU foists officials onto the board of Cbus
The union is being administered by Mark Irving KC. But he doesn’t call all the shots, as shown by the appointment of Paddy Crumlin to Cbus.
- Updated
- Myriam Robin
CFMEU-busting investigation winners laud whistleblowers, sources
The panel judging the Walkley Awards said the Breaking Bad series was “an incredible, courageous feat of investigative journalism”.
- Sam Buckingham-Jones
AFR’s Marin-Guzman wins Gold Walkley for Building Bad report
Reporter David Marin-Guzman was part of a team that uncovered construction companies’ dirty dealings with bikies and underworld identities.
- Updated
$11m in fines, 1000 breaches: Labor defends CFMEU crackdown in court
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus has cited $10.6 million in fines against the CFMEU as part of the government’s defence of laws that forced the union into administration.
- David Marin-Guzman
- Exclusive
- Industrial relations
How CFMEU wields control of a $1.2b workers’ redundancy fund
The chief executive of Incolink warned an employer group that the union could deprive it of tens of millions of dollars if they did not agree to demands.
- David Marin-Guzman
Qld to end CFMEU entitlements for rainy and humid days
Industry conditions that allow for a month of rostered days off a year for unionised construction workers have been suspended by the new Queensland government.
- James Hall
October 2024
Jobs go as troubled industry super giant Cbus rolls out restructure
Street Talk asked Cbus how many roles reported to chief investment officer Brett Chatfield now versus his appointment in June 2023.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
- Exclusive
- CFMEU
Rebel unions threaten to fund independent candidates to challenge Labor
The exiled CFMEU leadership is planning more mass walkouts of construction workers, as blue-collar unionists consider changes to future political funding.
- David Marin-Guzman and Gus McCubbing
AFR journalists finalists for four Walkley Awards
An almost year-long investigation into the CFMEU that exposed underworld infiltration of the construction industry is among finalists from The Australian Financial Review in the 69th Walkley Awards.
September 2024
Cbus’ CFMEU fallout ‘shows APRA’s weakness in super oversight’
Super funds get “preferential treatment” compared with banks and insurers, which may leave retirees out of pocket down the track.
- Hannah Wootton
George Alex’s boast: I’m untouchable because CFMEU ‘need money’
The organised crime boss bragged that the union deemed his firms “untouchable” on building sites because union officials needed their “kickers”, according to police surveillance.
- David Marin-Guzman and Nick McKenzie
- Opinion
- Opinion
Labor says CFMEU situation is under control. But look on the streets
The CFMEU rallies are the obvious signs of turmoil behind the scenes as a government-appointed administrator struggles to deal with union threats.
- Jennifer Hewett
Minister, watchdog put onus on Cbus to decide on controversial directors
Industrial Relations Minister Murray Watt and the prudential watchdog sidestepped any endorsement of union firebrand Paddy Crumlin to the board.
- Hannah Wootton
‘Your scalp will be ours’: Union threat to employers
Unionists backing the CFMEU have told thousands of protesters that anyone who assists the administrator as “betrayers”.
- David Marin-Guzman and Gus McCubbing
- Opinion
- Opinion
Put new ‘cop on beat’ to stop CFMEU menace machine
We need a new national body with the right powers and accountability to fairly police the threat-filled no-go, police-free zone of Australian life.
- Mike Zorbas